for canola, which produces seeds that are crushed to make food oil or bio-fuel.

The department's decision retains a 2 million acre district in which canola isn't allowed, but
identifies 480,000 acres at the district edges that may be suitable for
canola. Because canola is grown in rotation, planted on individual
fields only two years out of every five, the department doesn't expect
large acreage to be converted to canola production.

Specialty seed growers raise radish, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and other vegetables for seed, which are planted by farmers around the world. In a joint statement, the Willamette Valley Specialty Seed Association, the Specialty Seed Growers of Western Oregon, the Oregon Clover Commission, and the Oregon Seed Association explained their opposition to canola:

"There is no compelling reason to “balance the interests” in the Willamette Valley when those interests can be balanced by growing canola in other production areas of the state. In addition, the WVSSA would argue that past research at Oregon State University has already established that without government subsidy rapeseed is not an economic crop for the Willamette Valley. At the same time, the WVSSA supports the development of energy sources that are alternatives to fossil fuels, including biofuels derived from plants that can be grown in the Willamette Valley economically.

"The WVSSA requests that the Oregon Department of Agriculture enforce existing administrative rules defining control areas for rapeseed production in Oregon. Without careful stewardship of the Willamette Valley, Oregon will lose a substantial and globally unique industry."